2015 Regional Policy Forums

Transcription

1 2015 Regional Policy Forums Arlington Hampton Roads Roanoke Richmond

2 VHC-VCEH Merger

3 VHC- VCEH Merger Update VHC and VCEH combined advocacy work on HTF & other legislation Past year - Merger committee has seriously explored potential merger VCEH and VHC are joining forces to form the new Virginia Housing Alliance, which will be effective 1/1/16 New Board will be formed this fall and a new Executive Director will be hired VHA will continue to have members but without the responsibility of governance Leadership Council will be established for advice and support

4 VHC- VCEH Merger Update VHA Mission To expand affordable housing opportunities and end homelessness through advocacy, education and collaboration

5 Virginia Housing Alliance Activities will include: Expanded advocacy and policy work Housing training center called the Virginia Housing Education and Learning Partnership (VA-HELP) Energy program (MFEEC) Increased training and TA, including AmeriCorps VISTA program

6 Virginia Housing Alliance Regional Forums State Housing Day Year round lobbyist Advocacy and Policy Off-season legislative visits/project tours Federal Lobby Day State policy work Build legislative agenda Work with state agencies Online advocacy action alerts Alliance building, cross sector collaboration

7 VA- HELP (Training Center) Virginia Housing Education and Learning Partnership (VA- HELP) Purpose: provide a one stop resource for professional development, training, organizational development, and a range of other activities Why now? Significant shift in industry leadership as boomers retire Training opportunities are sporadic and disconnected There are significant gaps in the subject areas of training that are available Decreased public funding Business models for CDCs are in transition

8 VA- HELP (Training Center) VA- HELP will offer: Short-term: Online clearinghouse for current training and capacity building One stop access to information and registration Long-term: Defined curriculum and materials for scheduled trainings and capacity building Faculty of qualified trainers who specialize in topics Certifications for training in some topical areas

9 VA Multifamily Energy Efficiency Coalition (MFEEC) The Issue MF housing in Virginia lags behind other sectors in Energy Efficiency Low-income renters living in MF rental housing spend more on their utilities Resource poor environment for MFEE MF rental housing harder to serve than SF MF rental housing low hanging fruit for helping reach state s energy goals

10 VA Multifamily Energy Efficiency Coalition (MFEEC) Goal: Advance policies that provide comprehensive energy efficiency services to the state s MF housing stock 25 and 25 by 2025! Coordinated strategy across all opportunity areas: WAP, utilities, legislative, administrative, other initiatives Provide solutions/ta to enable action Ensure affordable housing community engagement in EE Coalition Members: Housing Advocates Housing Developers and RHA s Energy Efficiency Professionals Weatherization Providers Environmental Groups

11 VA Multifamily Energy Efficiency Coalition (MFEEC) PACE - Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing tool for energy efficiency upgrades, on-site renewable energy, and water conservation 100% Funding provided or arranged by local gov t and repaid with assessment to local property tax bill Long term financing creates positive cash flow Increases property values, creates jobs, and SAVES ENERGY

12 VA Multifamily Energy Efficiency Coalition (MFEEC) PACE in VA SB801/HB Enabling legislation for localities to pass ordinances creating PACE programs No ordinances yet... Waiting on DMME underwriting guidelines Dec 1. Want simple program, want to see pilot results Arlington, Fairfax City, Charlottesville working on programs VCC - Grant to explore models and educate localities on PACE Interested in more info? Neal Barber - nealbarber1944@gmail.com or

13 VCEH Training and TA Veteran s Initiative (winding down in 2015), ending CH in 2017 Updated State of Permanent Supportive Housing in Virginia, 2015 Providing TA to help Continuums of Care and Local Planning Groups create or update strategic plans to end homelessness Help with 2015 HUD CoC funding competition Site AmeriCorps VISTA workers in communities to build homeless service systems

14 Federal and State Legislative and Policy Update

15 Federal Housing Policy Update National Housing Trust Fund Created as part of HERA in Funding blocked Dedicated source of funding December 2014: FHFA director Mel Watt lifts suspension. 90% to buy, build, rehabilitate, preserve, or operate rental housing. 10% to first time homebuyers ELI targeted: >75% of state s allocation must benefit ELI renters Projected 2015 revenue: $ Million nationally VA should get 3-5 million

16 Federal Housing Policy Update Sequestration Automatic cuts if Congress didn t make plan to reduce deficit by $4 trillion Parity principle - Cuts split evenly between Defense and NDD Congress has until Oct. 1 to raise the cap or come to a deal Continuing Resolution for current funding levels likely Virginia hit especially hard b/c of heavy military and government contractors. Senate THUD bill preserves NHTF, and provides funding to maintain current vouchers, but cuts HOME by 93% to $66 million! House THUD bill Deep program cuts, insufficiently funds vouchers, raids the NHTF to plug holes in HOME

17 Federal Housing Policy Update Low Income Housing Tax Credit No immediate threat to LIHTC through comprehensive tax reform Hope that Senate or House bills to make the 9% credit rate permanent will move forward or tax extender package moves forward S.B Senators Cantwell (D-WA) and Roberts (R-KS), H.R Representatives Tiberi (R-OH) and Neal (D-MA) Rates currently at 7.49% and 3.21% VHC Housing Credit Conference - Oct 8-9 Richmond, VA - See you next week!

18 Federal Housing Policy Update Fair Housing Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule released Identify and address segregated housing patterns Guidance on creating and integrating AFH into conplans for use of CDBG, HOME, etc. Disparate Impact upheld by Supreme Court Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, Inc.

19 State Legislative Update VA Housing Trust Fund - Timeline 2012 HTF created in budget, funded with $7 million from the National Mortgage Settlement 2013 $1 million came from the Robo-Signing Settlement, and the HTF was put into state code. Initial $8 million allocated in 4 pools 2014 HTF not funded 2015 $8 million added to the FY14-16 budget at $4M/year VHTF funded consecutively for 4 years at $4M/year!

20 State Legislative Update HTF then and now

21 State Legislative Update VA Housing Trust Fund The search for a dedicated revenue source continues! SJ 235 (Watkins) - Directs the Virginia Housing Commission to conduct a study to evaluate and determine a dedicated revenue source for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. VHC engaged on issue w/housing Commission Members Presentation to Del. Peace s Affordable Housing work group HTF project tours - Del. Marshall, Del. Cox, Del. Ingram Center for Housing Research at VA Tech - Study on the economic impact of the first round of funded projects from 2013.

22 FundtheVHTF.org New Website dedicated to the VHTF and the campaign to secure a dedicated revenue source! Check it out: FundtheVHTF.org

23 State Legislative Update Advocacy Opportunities this fall Endorse the Fund the Fund campaign at FundtheVHTF. org Approach your county board or city council about a passing a support resolution or inclusion in legislative packet Visit your legislators in their district offices Save the Date: 2016 Housing Day will be Thursday, Feb. 11th

24 State Legislative Update 2015 Bill Summary - Passed SJ235 - Watkins - Housing Trust Fund revenue study HB1905 Lopez - Protection from Retaliatory Eviction SB1204 Wagner - Exemption from reporting requirements for donation of certain secondhand building materials to nonprofits HB2173 Orrock - Real property tax; waiver of delinquent taxes SB801 Watkins / HB1446 Marshall - Financing of clean energy programs; development of underwriting guidelines SB1349 Wagner - Electric utility regulation; suspension of reviews of earnings

25 State Legislative Update 2015 Bill Summary - Died SB1342 Puller Creating a Universal Visitability Grant Program / Livable Home Tax Credit Increase HB1910 Lopez Prohibiting Housing Discrimination Against Veterans HB1454 Simon / SB917 Wexton - Prohibiting Housing Discrimination Against LGBT Individuals SJ299 McEachin / HJ647 Rasoul - Affordable housing for people reentering society HB2084 Peace Auxiliary Grant Eligibility for Supportive Housing

26 VCEH Legislative Update 2015 GA: Budget amendment for $4.5 million (Lingamfelter, Edwards, Hanger) for services to homeless veterans resulted in $500K for RRH specifically for homeless veterans 2016 GA Supporting HTF dedicated revenue source PSH Policy Initiatives: 25% of NHTF for PSH and state funds for support services in PSH

27 Issues for 2016 Fair Housing Legislation Adding discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as an unlawful housing practice HOME will lead effort Del. Simon will Patron, Senate patron not yet confirmed HOME study demonstrated 31% rate of differential treatment Source of Income not pushed this year - Long-term strategy

28 Issues for 2016 Land Banks Vacant and dilapidated property Tax delinquent Lengthy tax foreclosure process Land banks offer Quicker property transfer Public community strategy Housing Commission - Enabling Legislation

29 Issues for 2016 Virginia Coastal Protection Act Joins Virginia into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) cap and trade program Reduces CO2 emissions in power plants Would bring estimated $200 million in revenue from sale of credits 50% to coastal resiliency 20% for economic development in SWVA 30% for energy efficiency - At least half for moderate and low income residential EE - < $30 million/year

30 Issues for 2016 Landlord Tenant Legislation Tenant's remedies for landlord's unlawful ouster, exclusion or diminution of service. Adds statutory damages of up to $500 to actual damages (greater of) ; Tenant's assertion; rent escrow Makes termination of rental agreement only at the request of the tenant

31 Issues for 2016 Summary of 2016 GA Issues/Bills Funding/dedicated revenue source for VHTF Funding for support services for PSH LGBT housing discrimination Land banking Virginia Coastal Protection Act Landlord tenant issues